Bung.



CHARLES J. BENDER, OF FERGUS FALLS, MINNESOTA.

BUNG.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 20, 1907.

Application filed May 1,1905. Serial No. 258,287.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES J. BENDER, acitizen of the United States, residing at Fergus Falls, in the county of Otter-tail and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bungs; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to bungs and its object is to provide a simple and inexpensive device of this character adapted to be permanently connected to a keg or barrel and which permits said. keg or barrel to be readily tapped without danger of injuring the same.

Another object is to provide a bung which does not require the use of a large cork.

A still further object is to provide a device of this character which does not necessitate the driving of a hung into position.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists of a threaded casing adapted to be screwed into a keg or barrel and to remain in position as long as said keg or barrel is used. This casing has a passage therethrough the outer end of which isenlarged and internally screw threaded. The smaller portion of the passage is adapted to receive a cork which is held in place by packing located in the enlarged portion of the passage. A screw is located within this enlarged portion of the passage and is adapted to compress the packing and cause it to retain the cork and at the same time prevent leakage therearound.

The invention also consists of the further novel constructions and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown the preferred form of my invention.

In said drawingsFigure l is an end elevation of the bung; Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof; and Fig. 3 is a section on line 33 Fig. 1.

Referring to the figures by numerals of reference 1 is an externally screw threaded casing having an enlarged head 2 which is also externally screw threaded. A passage 3 extends centrally through the casing 1 and opens at its forward end into the interior of head 2, the forward end of the casing 1 forming a shoulder 4 adapted to be contacted by a packing ring 5 preferably circular in cross section and formed ofrubber or like material. A cork 11 is adapted to be inserted in the passage and to be partly overlapped by the packing ring. A metallic Washer 10 is fitted in the head 2 and bears on packing 5 and a threaded ring 6 is mounted in the head and engages screw threads 7 formed therein. This ring has its outer face grooved transversely as shown at 8 to receive a tool whereby the same can be readily rotated to clamp the washer 10 upon the packing 5. Recesses 9 are formed in the end of head 2 to receive a wrench whereby the casing l and its head 2 may be readily screwed into a keg or barrel.

As best shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings the threads upon the section 1 are greater in number than the threads upon the member 2 the members 1 and 2 being the same length, so that when said bung is screwed into the keg, one set of the threads will cause the oppo- 'site set of threads to be moved more or less bodily through the wood of that particular part of the stave engaging the threads and thereby serve to destroy the thread passages and bind the wood between the threads, thereby serving to lock said bung securely in the keg. This bung is permanently placed within the head of a keg or barrel and is adapted to remain therein as long as the said keg or barrel is used. Before the keg or barrel has been filled cork 11 is placed in passage 3 and packing ring 5 is clamped on shoulder 4 by means of the threaded ring 6. The packing overlaps the cork and not only serves to retain it against the expansive pressure of the gas in the keg but also prevents leakage around the cork.

If the keg has been filled and it is desired to tap it, ring 6 is unscrewed sufficiently to remove the pressure from the packing ring 5. A tapping tube can then be forced through the packing ring so as to drive the cork 11 into the keg. After the tap has been inserted a suflicient distance the ring 6 is screwed inward so as to expand the packing ring 5 and prevent leakage around the tube. 1 preferably employ the ordinary jacket beer tube when tapping the keg in this manner.

By providing a bung such as hereindescribed the keg or barrel to which it is connected will not be injured as a result of plugging or tapping the same and therefore the life of said keg or barrel is considerably prolonged. Moreover, the keg is more conveniently tapped than where a large cork such as ordinarily employed is used.

By providing the casing 1 with an enlarged head 2 and externally screw-threading the casing and its head, the entire casing can be inserted in a counter-sunk opening within the keg and engage all portions of the wall thereof. Moreover, by using a casing of this peculiar shape it absolutely prevents the escape of gas therearound, because the shoulder upon the casing will abut tightly against the shoulder formed within the countersunk opening within the keg.

In the foregoing description I have shown the preferred form of my invention but I do not limit myself thereto. I am aware that modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit or sacrificing the advantages thereof, and I therefore reserve the right to make such changes as fairly fall within the scope of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A bung comprising a casing exteriorly threaded throughout its length, an enlarged exterior-1y threaded head at one end of said casing, said casing and head being of the same length, the threads upon one member being greater in number than the threads upon the other member, said casing and head having passages therethrough, the passage in said head being of a greater circumference than the passage in the casing, a shoulder formed at the junction 01' said passages, a packing ring, and means-to adjustably compress said ring upon said shoulder.

2. As an improved article of manufacture, the bung herein described, comprising an integral casing and enlarged head both of the same length and exteriorly threaded, there being an axial passage through the casing and an axial passage in the head of greater diameter than the passage in the casing, with an internal shoulder at the junction of said passages, a cork in the passage of the casing extended within the head beyond said shoulder, a packing ring circular in cross section seated upon said shoulder and engaging said cork, a metallic Washer snugly fitting said head and bearing upon said packing ring, and a threaded ring engaging threads upon the inner wall of said head and bearing upon said washer, said ring having an axial bore of substantially the same diameter as the axial passage in the casing.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

CHARLES .T. BENDER.

Witnesses:

F. J. EVANS, J. S. ALLAND. 

